Sleeping car



Aug. 30, 1932.

w. YOUNG SLEEPING CAR Filed 0'01. 29. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ldzllz'am Hazing v w. YOUNG .Aug. 30, 1932.

SLEEPING CAR 7 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I l I l t I I 1 I 1 l i I l I l Filed 001;." 29, 1930 fl llll llzlll .III :llliiiii lllflliazp Huang ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 30, 1932 ummn'smkres wiLLIAM YOUNG, OF DETROIT, MIonIGAN SLEEPING canv Application filed was 29, 1930. Serial No. 491,878".

The present invention pertains to a novel sleeping car for use on railways.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an upper and lower berth structure wherein the upper berth can be more conveniently manipulated than in the conventional constructions. The device of the present invention is distinguished from themore common upper berth structure by the fact that the upper berth slides vertically between operative and inoperative positions, while in the common constructions the upper berth swings on a horizontal axis lengthwiseof the car.

'15 In moving the upper berthffrom one position to another, according to the present invention, it is necessary only to slide the same on vertical guiding means provided therefor. Consequently, the bedding thereon may be prepared before moving it to inoperative position so that there will be no time lost for arranging the bedding when the berth is brought into use. When raised toits inoperative position, the upper'berth is con- 5 cealed in a suitable fixed structure which may have an ornamental appearance. a

The invention also provides for the provision of certain appliances such as washbasins, folding chairs and mirrors, for the use of'the occupants of both berths. The car has a double wall structure :in which these devices may be housed in such a manner as to be concealed when not inuse and readily brought into use when desired.

The invention isfully disclosed by way of example in the following description'and in the accompanying drawings, 'in which Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of a sleeping car constructed according to the invention; v I

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22.of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and j V Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of the car on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Reference to these views will now bemade by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

The car is preferably of steel construction having vertical side walls 1 covered by a roof 2. The roof lies in one horizontal plane, extending directly from theupper edges of the Wall 1, as distinguished from themore conventional construction in'which the roofhas M a raised central portion.runningtlengthwise 5 of the'car. The construction shown herein provides more space in the upper'corners of the car, fora purpose which-will presently appear. 5 Along the walls 1 are mounted inner h wall members Sparallel to and spacedfrom 0 the members 1, thereby forming a double wall structure with a compartment or space 4. between theinner and outer wall members 1 and?) respectively. p m

On the floor 5 of the carare mounted seats 6 alternately in back to back relation and front to-front relation, as in the conventional sleeping cararrangement. Between the backs of adjacent seats, however, are mounted vertical slidable partitions 7 for-a purpose which will presently appear. The twoseats 6 between adjacent partitions? are adapted'to be converted into alower' berth, also in the manner well knownjin the art.

Each 'spacebetween partitions 7, from the i5 floor to the roof of the car, may be identified as a compartment,and the berth structure which is identical in all" compartments will now be described with respect to one of the compartments. I Longitudinal structural 8 0 members 8. and 921m mounted in thespace 4: respectively along the seats 6 and in the upper cornerformed by the members land 2. v The members 8 and 9' serve tosupport a. vertical guide rod lO, at each seating compartment preferably in the transverse center thereof and obviously in the space 4:. An upper berth frame 11 is vertically slidable over the seats 6 in each compartment by means of a bracket '12 extending from each frame and slidably 9 p surroundingthe adjacent rod 10. The inner wall member 3 is slotted at 13,'as shown in I Fig. 2, to permit vertical sliding of the brackets 12. These brackets have ofl'fset ends 14 for attachment to the frame 11' atpoints outside theedges 'ofthe slot *13. Between the offset ends is mounted avertical panelv 15 fixed the berth is'initsraisedposition. fTheexposed face of the panel may support, a mirror, and window openings 16 and 17 are formed in each seating space at opposite sides of the panel and respectively in the upper and lower parts ofthe seating compartment. 7

Beneath the bracket 12, each rod 10 is surrounded by a coil spring 18 resting upon the structural member 8 and balancing the berth 11. Between the backs of adjacent seats 6 is inserted a rail 19 suitably secured to the inner wall member? This rail has a "vertical groove 20 receiving a tongue or bead 21 extending from the outer edge of the adjacent partition 7; The opposite faces-ofthe rail have grooves 22 receiving rollers 23 carried by the'ends of adjacent berths 11. The inner 31 extends from the disk 26Ifor operating the the concealed :positioman operating shaft vertical edge of each partition 7 is. enlarged as at 24 and formed with angles 25 which receiveand guide the inner corners of adjacent berths, thus eachberth isguided at'its four corners as well as by means ofthe brackets 12 on the IodlO. a j H The bottom of each berth carries a'rotatably mounted disk 26 with two lockingrods 27 pivotally attached to'eccentricpoints thereof and extending lengthwise of the berth. Eachberth is adapted to be received in an upper structure 28*when not in use. The transverse walls have notches 30 adapted to receive the free ends of'the rods v27, whereby 'toQlock and support theberth in the raised position shown in' Figs. 1 and 2. Ahandle {is concealed and carries 'gears meshing with the-racks 34 secured vertically to one of the sides of the partition. Eachof these shafts is accessible to the exposed end of the corresponding seat 6, as shown in Fig. 4, by

means of asuitable crank. The partitions *are operated by turning the respective shafts 32 and are preferably raised before the berths .7 V are lowered, so that the inner corners of the berths will 'havebearingin the angles 25 of the partiti0ns7. 1

For the purpose of raising the berths to ,-35 is .journaled-inthe back of one of the seats 6 of p the corresponding compartment and is equippedwith a pulley 37 in the wall space 4'. Anotherpulley 38 is journaledin the wall spacevertically above the member 3 5,'and still another pulley 39 is journaled at a point spaced horizontally from the memher 38 in the direction towards the guide rod '1 Th r cketfl h w Pu ey 9 I011. 40

fixed member in the car structure. I The shaft 7 35 may be engaged by the crank, and when turned in counter clockwise direction with reference to Fig. 4, winds the member 41 on the pulley 37 and raises the berth 11. -When raised-to its upper limit, the berth is. concealed in the structure 28 and is locked in this position by operation of thehandle 31 as already described. I

The space 4 is common to both the upper and lower berthsand maybe utilized to contain appliances for the use of the occupants of both berths. In Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are shown at their lower edges and adaptedto swing from the inner wall 3 into. the seating compartment. Itwill be seen in Fig. 4 that these panels lie between the member 15 and theupper window openings 17. V, 1

The inner surface of he panel 46 carries a wash basin 49 exposed in the space 4 when the panel is raised, as may be seen by reference toFig. 2. The basin is so mounted on the panel as to assume an operative and use- ..ful position when the panelis suspended vertically from its hinged edge. A flexible or swivel pipe coupling 50 connects the basin to one of thepipes 45 and it will be evident that similar coupling means may be extended from the water supply pipes to the taps associated wth the basin.\ Hot and cold water 7 may obviously be supplied through separate'pipes 45. V

To the inner face of the panel 47 is attached mounted therein. A flexible member 41, s

a seat member 51 by means of a hinge 52 at 7 its uppenedge. VVhen the panel 47is relea-sed, it hangs vertical. from its hinge 4g The hinge 52. permits the seat member '51 to be then extended into a horizontal position.

Thus, the occupant of the upper berth isiprovided with a seat which is particularly useful when the occupant is dressing or undress ing. Obviously, similar plumbingfacilities maybe provided for the lower berth.

tain54 attached to the forward edge of the berth frame 11, so that when, the berth is lowered, the curtain is drawn down therein. ;.Th1s curta n may beso constructed as to permit easy entrance into the berth although normally concealing the berth.

A ventilating shaft 55 extends through the entire length of the car and is provided with ventilating ports 56 opening into the upper structure 28. These ports 56 are to be provided with any suitable damper or valve mechanism of a type permitting the bedding to be aired while the berth is in its closed position. A hinged shelf 57 is hinged to the edge of the ventilating shaft and closes the space between the edge of the berth 11 and the ventilating shaft, this shelf serving as a place where baggage may be placed.

To enter the upper berth described the use of a ladder is necessary and a folding type is preferable inasmuch as a folding ladder could be stored in a compartment formed in the ends of the seats 6 and covered by the hinged door 58.

Although a specific embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention, and such changes are contemplated.

WVhat I claim is 1. In a sleeping car having vertical side walls and a top lying directly upon said side walls and disposed in a single horizontal plane, a berth supported for vertical movement along one of said side walls and adapted to be moved into the corner formed by said wall and top, and means for maintaining said berth in raised and lowered positions respectively, and a ventilator shaft extending along said top and disposed'beneath the upper edge of said side wall.

2. In a sleeping car, a double side Wall, a vertical guide rod mounted in said wall, a movable berth within the car, guide members extending from said berth and mounted on said rod, and a spring surrounding said rod in engagement with said guide members and tending to balance the weight of said berth.

3. In a sleeping car, a double side wall, a vertical guide rod mounted in said wall, a movable berth within the car, guide members extending from said berth and mounted on said rod, a spring surrounding said rod, one of said guide members resting on said spring, said spring being of insufficient strength to support said berth in raised position.

4. In a sleeping car, floor seats arranged in back to back relation, vertically slidable partitions mounted between the backs of adjacent seats, a berth supported for vertical movement over said seats and between adjacent partitions, said adjacent partitions being adapted to guide said berth in vertical movement.

5. In a sleeping car, a double side wall, a vertical guide rod mounted in said wall, a

movable berth within the car, guide mem- V bers extending from said berth and mounted on said rod, and hinged panels in the inner surface of said double wall, service appliances carried by said panels and adapted for concealment in said double wall, said appliances being accessible from the berth compartment on swinging said panels away from said wall.

7. In a sleeping car, a double side wall, a vertical guide rod mounted in said wall, a movable berth within the car, guide members extending from said berth and mounted on said rod, floor seats in said car, arranged back to back beneath said berth, vertically slidable partitions mounted between the backs of adjacent seats and adapted to guide said berth vertically, hinged panels in the inner surface ofsaid double wall, and service appliances carried by said panels and adapted for concealment in said double wall,

said appliances being accessible from the berth compartment on swinging said panels away from said wall.

8. In a sleeping car, a berth supported for vertical movement, means for maintaining said berth in raised and lowered positions, respectively, an enclosing member in the upper portion of said car and adapted to contain said berth when in a raised position, a roller mounted in said enclosure, and a curtain mounted on said roller and having one end attached to said berth.

9. In a sleeping car, floor seats arranged in back to back relation, vertically slidable partitions mounted between the backs of adjacent seats, a berth supported for vertical movement over said seats and between adj acent partitions, said adjac-ent partitions being adapted to guide said berth in vertical movement, and means for sliding said partitions concealed in said seats.

10. In a sleeping car, a double side wall, a vertical guide rod mounted in said wall, a

movable berth within the car, guide members I extending from said berth and mounted on said rod, floor seats in said car, arranged back to back beneath said berth, vertically slidable partitions mounted between the backs of adjacent seats and adapted to guide said berth vertically, and means concealed in said seats for sliding said berth and partitions.

WILLIAM YOUNG. 

